The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-03-12
truth, and all there is of it, and the very es-

truth, and all there is Of 1t, and the very es-
sentlal works In which il must, should, shall
and will be everlaslingly held. were con-
stantly disturbed and irritated at his"havoc |
Of the TRUTH Benz. tranklins 1.-The poor |
est wheel in the cart makes the most noise" |
probably had good mauy illustrations then. |
Beecher became the most celebrated pulpit |
orator of the age-the man Of the people. |
When Marcus Aureius, the Roman emp eror.
died the people had his picture every where.
Twenty years ago Henry Ward Beecher's
picture was in ten thousand homes, his SER
mons were read by hundreds Of thousands.
Go where he would, in the year Of grace
1887, in pulpit or to platform, from Maine
to Oregon, from Iudsons Bay to the Gulf
Of Mexico, more would crowd out to hear
him than any other orator. Mankind in
general believed in him The day Of his
aeath the dag of the nation fell to half.mast
in Brook lyn. and funeral sorrow was seen
from ocean to ocean, and noble expressions
came from noblest nationali,ies beyond the
seas. or course there is A" back
ground Of mystery in his case.
A member of his church accused him Of
a great crime. His church, larger by .
thousand souls than any church of its de-
nomination in this country, and sensitive to
its own honor, brought him to trial. with all
the thoroughness and energy with which
such trial can be conducted and entirely
acquitted and eXculpated him. The plain.
tiff, as if believing There we're millions in
ill., sought redress at courts of law, with the
ablest talent the land afforded. Before the
court the wife Of the plaintiff, under oath,
declared she hae been persuaded to make
her accusation when bnfeebled, and scarce
knowing what she did. In the process Of
the trial she voluntarily, and without the
knowledge of any person, asked the privil-
ege Of a sworn statement, and being granted
lit, solemnly swore tina, MIR Beecher had
been falsely accused, aud was guiltless Of
crime against her. His own examination,
his denial on oath, the jury, nine for acquit-
tai and three for conviction, are well known
facts. The damaging disclosures Of com.
plainant's witness, Bessie Turner, as to TIL
tons habits and morals did not help him.
His subsequent appearance in this state on
lecture tour excited no interest.
i Frank Moulton, when in later years in
IN Chicago, rallied by very intimate friend
Of former years, by the inquiry, Frank, do
you honestly believe as against Beecher,
what Tlton trnmped up against him in that
trial. said "No, / don'E."
MIR. Beecher was beclouded in reputation.
That he never seemed to retain fully his
former influence and power, may be true in
fact or only seemingly so, and because the
names of other men Of might and multiplied
exciting events embroiling nations, divided
the public attention. His own excursions in
lheologic thought have been to his disad-
vantage But that he is in the wide worlds
estimate held high in veneraton as the
most magnetic and eloquent Of preachers,
man Of marvellous insight into the truth and
knowledge Of men, of noblest aim and spirit
in life, admits Of no question. The entire
family is marked by genius. Edward, who
has several times been guest Of gentle
man IN this city Catharine, thu oldest child,
who also has visited here, was n good exccu-
tive organizer and influential writer. Pledg-
ed for marriage union with young man of
great promise connected with Yale college,
Alexander Fisher, the vessel on which he
was sailing for England, was never heard
from. 1t was supposed to have gone down
at sea with all on board. Miss Beecher
never married. Forty years ago she was
engaged in planting young ladies seminaries
lin the west and came to Ottawa for that
purpose. Mrs. Stone needs no introduction
to the English reading people. Thomas K,
the graduate from Illinois College, was often
invited out, when student, with his rifle,
by the farmers in the vicinity OF the college,
when they wanted q beef killed for family
supply. He has been now many years pas
tor of very large church at Elmira, New
York. The church building is block, pro-
viding library, reading room, halls for sup
pers, or church teas, parlors for church
work, and fats or apartments that may be
held by poor families of the church, or fami-
lies burned out, or in special distress in the
town. When we were last at his house 1t
was touching to see most wretched crippled
girl the family had adopted, because no one
else would for low, or money, and called her
&" daughter" she calling them father and
" mother" Also an unfortunate, homeless,
friendess Irish lad. At the family worship
the boy read scriptures and had some diff
Guilty in getting over old testament names,
being then q very poor reader. $50 little
careful, my son" said Mr. b.; Ego little
careful over that hardrare.'
George Beecher, brother, and clergy.
man in northern Ohio going out with his
gun to shoot the birds eating up his cherries,
not returning to breakfast when called, was
found dead from accidental discharge of the
gun Brig Gen James, the youngest child,
formerly in clerical service, under mental
depression and irritation long continued
and intoleratle. killed himself August last.
There are still left four brothers and one
sister living, and only two of these younger
than seventy years
OF Henry Ward, Mark Twain says: "Mr
Beecher has done more than any other man,
perhaps, to inspire religion, test the pro-
progressive spirit of the nineteenth century.
| lie has done as much as any man to keep
the people from reading their bibles by the
interpretations of the eighteen century. lie
has set his mark upon the epoch, and years
hence when the people turn over the bales
and bundles of this generations ideas, they
will find H. W. B. stamped on good many
of them
Great and just in his reverent conception
of God, his intellect was matched only by
his heart. That and intellect with with him
Joined in his worshipful prayer, HOW to
come to Christ" a sermon preached by him
in the Bowery theatre year ago, makes PLAIN
the way, as few sermons on do. His removal
is a loss to all mankind He made God appear
our father, and the divine Christ our
brother.